CHANDIGARH: Born in a Hindu family 26 years ago, Rakesh Pal with his flowing beard and a safron turban now looks every inch a Sikh peasant. Bengpur village near Bikhwind township in Amritsar district has been his family’s house for as long as he can remember.
Rakesh Pal says he found much in similar between the Sikh and Hindu religion and converted to Sikhism and converted so as to continue living in the land of his roots. He is typical of the silent transformation that started in the villages on Indo and Pak border some time ago.
The majority of Hindus have migrated to nearly townships while those who have stayed converted to Sikhism.
The government is aware of these conversions is indicated by a secret in house memo dated June 21, 1989 by Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) O.P. Sharma. He stated, “majority of the Hindus living in villages in Amritsar district have baptized themselves and. adopted the Sikh religion. In the same memo he further stated, “the Hindus residents have left their villages and either living in towns or have shifted out of Punjab. The Hindus living in villages in Amritsar district do not think themselves to be safe.”
Butat the same time the Punjab government has been painting a rosy picture to the Union government, In a note on law and order situation in Punjab sent on June 30 for the meeting of the consultative ‘committee of the Home Ministry, the state government wrote, “there has been a qualitative change for the better in the situation. the change is basically in the protection of the people and in their measure of their confidence in the administration. This realization has built up the confidence of the Hindus in particular.”
While in many cases the change of guise is without renouncing Hinduism in some cases the Hindus have even baptized themselves as Sikhs by partaking of Amrit.
Darshan Lal and Amir Chand now Amir Singh, the two sons of Pandit Amar of Bham Tara Singh village 12 km from Bikhiwind even wear the kirpans (short swords) mandatory for Amritdhari Sikhs.
There have been cases when gunmen have been known to have changed their mind about killing a person on learning that he had adopted Sikhism.
Two months ago a group of gunmen came to Begepur village at night looking for the Hindu headman, Shiv Kumar. A middle aged man supporting long hair and beard walked up. They took him along reluctantly. A day later they sent him without any harm whatsoever, ostensibly because he had adopted the Sikh way of life.
In some cases however even conversion does not help. Darshan Lal of Mari Udhoke was gunned down by gunmen while supporting a beard and turban “Don’t think we don’t know who you are,” they said while pumping bullets into him.
His brothers moved to Bikhiwind township. Two of them Ram Surup Dhawan and Prem Pal wear turbans and have long beards, “Since we have to travel there is in other option.”
The Hindu community in the area is slowly dying,” Ram Surup says philosophically.
It is a similar situation in village around Khalra township which is only two km from the Indo Pak border.
“Jaisa Desh Vaisa Bhesh” “When in Rome do as the Romans do,” is how Jagat Ram now Jagat Singh of village Khalra put it
Another shopkeeper who has adopted Sikhism lately says, “When the government can’t protect you, you have to fend for yourself,”.
In village after village near the border, the change of guise by the Hindus is apparent. Sham Lal of Khalra who is a teacher posted in Nawapind in Valtoha village is a recent convert as is Ajit Pal another teacher in Bikhiwind High’ School.
Gurdev Lal working as statistical assistant at Patti says he became a Sikh as he has to travel in ‘busses.
Krishan Lal who travels from Amnitsar to Bikhwind every day to work in a tractor worship cites the same reason.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 28, 1989
